Vice President Sara Duterte. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte claimed on Tuesday that her possible impeachment is “openly discussed” in the House of Representatives.
“Pinag-uusapan nila. Kahit i-deny nila, pinag-uusapan ng members of the House of Representatives,” Duterte said in an interview in the Senate when asked about the alleged brewing impeachment against her.
(They are talking about it. Even if they deny it, the members of the House are talking about it)
“Kasi meron pa naman kaming mga kaibigan sa loob e na hindi lang nagsasalita dahil takot daw sila. Sinasabi nila, it’s openly discussed, yung impeachment,” she added.
(Because we still have friends inside who are not just talking because they are afraid. They said, it’s openly discussed, the impeachment)
Duterte reiterated she already expected this “playbook” by those who want to bring down her family.
She then noted the investigations in the House targeting her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, her brother, Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, and even her husband, Man Carpio.
“They want to project the family as corrupt, as criminals as walang kwentang mga tao…and all because, we are a threat to the perpetuation in power of people na interesado na maging prime minister kung matuloy yung nililuto nilang Cha-cha (Charter change) o president kung hindi maluto yung Cha-cha nila,” Duterte said.
(They want to project the family as corrupt, as criminals as worthless…and all because, we are a threat to the perpetuation in power of people who are interested to become prime minister if their proposed Cha-cha succeeds, or president if their Cha-cha fails.)
But the Vice President said she is not bothered by all these impeachment talks, as she expressed readiness to lose her post anytime.
“Hindi (No). I’m not at all bothered,” she said. “I’m bothered na gusto nilang i-frustrate, ang pinili ng mga tao na maging Vice President all because of power and politics.”
(No, I’m not at all bothered. What bothers me is that they want to frustrate the choice of the people for Vice President, all because of power and politics.)
From the start, Duterte said she didn’t want to run for either president or vice president as she just wanted to finish her three terms as mayor of Davao City.
She said only decided to run for the second top post on the platform of “unity and continuity” to continue the big ticket projects of her father.
But these projects are now “unappropriated,” the Vice President lamented.
“So kapag paalisin nila ako dito, or i-impeach nila ako, hindi kawalan sa akin ang position na Vice President,” she stressed.
(So if they remove me or impeach me, the position of Vice President isn’t a loss for me.)
In the same interview, Duterte reiterated she has no plans of running for president in 2028.
“Mahirap sagutin ang 2028. Imagine-in nyo, pagbaba ko dito nahulog ako sa hagdan di ba e namatay ako bukas, sayang ang paghahanda ko dahil ang layo ng 2028,” she said.
(It’s difficult to answer about 2028. Imagine if I were to fall down the stairs and die tomorrow—what a waste of preparation for something as far off as 2028)
“Dapat magplano for 2028 sa 2027 at 4th quarter ng 2026,” Duterte added.
(Planning for 2028 should start in 2027 and the fourth quarter of 2026.)